Is it me or....

[SpiritHorse]

Is there something going on with horses everyplace?

In 2004 I heard of colic cases out the wazoo and last year and this year nothing but founder,laminitis and lameness issues.
Could weather be a factor?

Am I slipping or what?

[Phil Armitage]

I have wondered the same thing some years. One thing that comes to mind is how much we vaccinate horses. I think it is too much, but I'm no Vet so what do I know.

[Katy Watts]

The reason why horses get sick is always going to be multifactoral. They don't get enough exercise, while we feed them like cows being fattened for slaughter, then when we finally realized they are too fat, instead of finding lower calorie feed, we feed less, and they spend too much time with empty bellies and get ulcers. We buy hay because it's pretty, and neglect to get it analyzed to know if they are getting enough minerals. Then every time some health problem comes up, we start pouring on supplements, AGAIN never knowing what we are feeding in the first place, and might be feeding toxic amounts of minerals. We feed herbal remedies for which no research has been done on horses, which may have a broad spectrum of activity for which very little is known. We breed horses not suited to live in our particular environment, and keep them alive far longer than nature intended when they become old and ill. We allow horses with congenital defects to survive, when Mother Nature would have made them cougar food before they had a chance to reproduce. We worm and vacinate so much that their immune systems become lazy and uneducated. Then we haul them all over the country to gatherings of other immune compromised horses, where in the wild, they would never interact so much. Too many are put in stalls all day, and then when they show some exhuberance and joy in their 4-5 hours per week out of prison, they are punished, or otherwise confused by inept trainers and riders, so they are further stressed. Some people spend too much time reading books and asking people on the internet for advice when if they would spend the same amount of time exercising, interacting and being observant with their horse a lot of their problems would go away. Sometimes I find it amazing that so many horses are healthy and seem to enjoy their lives.
Katy

[Mackenzie J.]

I have wondered the same thing some years. One thing that comes to mind is how much we vaccinate horses. I think it is too much, but I'm no Vet so what do I know.

I just had my horse's bi-annual vaccinations done in September, and a couple weeks ago, the vets office wanted to another full load! (That was only 4 months ago!). I decided to wait a while...

[joan cameron]

"Some people spend too much time reading books and asking people on the internet for advice when if they would spend the same amount of time exercising, interacting and being observant with their horse a lot of their problems would go away."

While I agree there are many reasons that horses colic I don't see how seeking advice in different areas is bad. There is always something to learn...no one has ALL the answers. And some people can interact and observe a horse for hours...and still don't get it. They sometimes need it spelled out for them.

I think that people do tend to forget that god made horses to move...and move alot!! Making sure they're fed a balanced diet with access to lots of water and movement, whether forced exercise or being able to move around and not be stalled alot is crucial to their well being. Keeps everything moving thru the old intestines like it should.

[SpiritHorse]

It was something I have been watching closely on quite a few boards over the past couple years.

My 26 yo is the only one on a supplement for her arthritis, all 4 are not stalled ever. I play and get them to run around when I can't ride.

Colic can appear from alot of things as I have been finding out, horses have such delicate systems it doesn't take much to bungle it. But I had wondered if weather hasn't played a part in it.

I know cows around here with the weather so goofed up have not been synchronizing, coming in with calf and having hard time deliveries. They have been getting pneumonia as well. Horses did this in 03 and 04 but actually started in the late 90's just not as bad.

Thanks for the replies !!